Opening Skinner’s Box: Great Psychological Experiments of the Twentieth Century

In the Introduction, Slater writes: “Surgeons are, this very moment, mining our crenulated brains. We are conditioned, revealed, freed, and accountable. Someone shouts in order. We do or do not obey. Now, turn the page” (5). Unpack this quote—how does it contribute to the book’s message about psychology’s philosophical truths? Discuss the tone of this passage and the way in which it directly addresses the reader.

What is the significance of Professor Jerome Kagan leaping under his desk to demonstrate free will? Does this satisfactorily refute Skinner’s findings around conditioning? Discuss why or why not.

In Chapter 2, Slater explains how Milgram’s experiments were seen as unethical, due to the fact that they could cause irreparable psychological trauma in the participants. What other experiments profiled in the book were seen as unethical? Discuss the various ethical issues that arose around each of the experiments.

One of the primary themes is Slater’s exploration of the philosophical questions at the root of psychology. In Slater’s opinion, how does likening psychology to art allow her to explore those questions more fully?

Slater is an active character throughout the book, offering up personal stories to illustrate various psychological principles. How does this enhance the narrative? Why does this unconventional approach spur criticism with her scientific community?

Slater takes care to provide biographical details of each of the psychologists. What is the purpose of this? Which psychologist’s background most heavily influenced his or her research in the field of psychology?

In Chapter 6 on Harry Harlow’s experiments on primates, Slater explores the moral issues surrounding experimentation on animals. Examine the pros and cons, and make a final verdict on if it is morally corrupt or not.

Compare and contrast Chapter 9 on Eric Kandel and Chapter 10 on the history of the lobotomy. Both focus on neurological sub-fields of psychology, but how do their findings serve the book’s overall themes?